twelve
The beginning blend tw is followed by elve. Keep the final silent e when spelling twelve.
1st Grade · Themed Spelling Practice
1st Grade Number Spelling Words 11–20
The written number words from eleven through twenty appear in counting and schoolwork. This ten-word set builds spelling practice with the stable teen ending, familiar number-word bases, and several less-predictable vowel spellings.
Word list
All 10 words in this list
1st Grade · Themed Spelling Practice
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
10 words
What to notice when spelling these words
Seven words share the ending teen
The words thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen all end in teen. Spell this stable ending with the vowel team ee each time.
Look for a familiar number word at the beginning
The beginnings of fourteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen keep the spellings of four, six, seven, eight, and nine. In thirteen and fifteen, the beginnings thir and fif change from the spellings of three and five, so compare them carefully.
Organize the words outside the teen group
The words eleven, twelve, and twenty do not use the teen ending. Say each word in two spoken parts, then check its beginning, middle vowel, and ending rather than trying to attach the shared pattern.
Notes for particular words
eighteen
Start with the complete spelling of eight, including the vowel team eigh, and then add teen.
twenty
The word twenty begins with tw and ends with ty. Its middle vowel is written e, even when that vowel is not clearly heard.